Upstate flood-warning system plans

Flood-warning system meant to improve accuracy

New York officials have begun planning a flood-warning system meant to improve accuracy of forecasts for the Oswego, Mohawk and Hudson river basins in 27 upstate counties.

The state Canal Corp. board has approved the project with an application filed for an $8.5 million Federal Emergency Management Agency grant.

The proposed system would use weather forecasts, rain gauges and new and existing stream gauges meant to provide basin communities with more precise flood warnings with online maps to show expected flood areas and depths.

It's intended to fill gaps with the current flood warning system, the National Weather Service's Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service.

Canal Corp. Director Brian Stratton says new web-based tools could help local officials identify spots likely to be inundated and the timing of peak flows.